Heritage inspires Cherokee art show

Tuesday

Jul 30, 2013 at 9:51 AM

By J. NIELSENCorrespondent

The past sometimes finds one quite by accident and leads to a journey of self-discovery.

With a casual interest in American Indian history, Carl Keeler perused a book and found a photograph of a relation, William Wayne "Bill" Keeler, who was elected principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1971.

"Hello. That guy has the same name I do," Keeler recalled saying.

Curious, Keeler, gallery director of Manatee County Cultural Alliance, traveled to the Cherokee Indian Nation Headquarters in Tahlequah, Okla., where he purchased original and print artwork.

He added pieces earlier this month during a trip to North Carolina.

The collection will be on display through August at the alliance gallery in Village of the Arts.

Keeler, a Chicago native, is known to many locally as a longtime science professor at Manatee Junior College, now State College of Florida. His interest in American Indian culture began as a boy.

"Two words," he explained. "Boy Scouts."

His father was a troop leader and took his son on adventures exploring the outdoors. The interest resulted in bachelor's and master's degrees in botany from Northwestern University. He continued his education at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts.

"I took every course in marine biology I could get my hands on," Keller said.

Hired by the local college, he taught there for 33 years until retiring in 2000.

For Keeler, science and art are a natural combination.

"Been into photography all my life," he said. "That was what got me into art."

He recalled when the science building at the college was renovated, explaining, "Ninety feet of linear bare naked wall, and I thought, 'Gallery.'"

After he wrote letters to every organization he could think of, the gallery in the science building hosted The National Geographic Show, Nikon Small Wonder Show and shows by local artists interpreting science. It seemed a natural extension of his career to start working with the Arts Council of Manatee County, where he has served as gallery director for 13 years.

As a scientist, Keeler is still trying to figure out his Cherokee heritage. He shares the name with the great Cherokee nation chief, and there is an unmistakable resemblance. There are 14 Keelers listed in the Guton-Miller 1909 Census and Enrollment to Cherokee Nation. Keeler's parents were from eastern Kansas, not far from the location of the Oklahoma Tribe.

A few weeks ago, Keeler set off for a journey to the other Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band, in North Carolina.

The tribe split in two about 175 years ago. After the directive from President Andrew Jackson, most Cherokees participated in what was to become "The Trail of Tears" in the late 1830s and headed west. Some of the tribe stayed behind and still live in North Carolina.

Honoring his past, Keeler decided to buy and share the artwork created by his kindred. The art is already priced from when he purchased the pieces. He will benefit only by sharing something good.

"Most are already priced since I bought them," he said. "I'm looking to break even."

Carl Weeks honored at tonight's ballgame

After 42 years of serving the community, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County President Carl Weeks will retire at the end of August.

In one of the "Farewell Tour" appearances, Carl Weeks Night will begin at 5:30 p.m. today at McKechnie Field, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton.

The Bradenton Marauders will play the Dunedin Blue Jays. Children who attend the Boys & Girls Club will sing the national anthem, Weeks will throw out the first pitch and there will be other activities during and after the game.

Game tickets range from $5 to $10.

The Marauders will donate $1 for each ticket sold to the Carl Weeks Fund, which benefits the clubs.

For details about the game, call 747-3031. For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, call 761-2582 or visit www.bcgmanatee.org.

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